Centre's nod for CBI probe into Aarushi murder case

New Delhi, June 1 (UNI) The Centre has handed over the sensational Noida Aarushi-Hemraj twin murder case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), following the Uttar Pradesh government's recommendation.

The Ministry of Personnel and Training issued a notification in this regard last night, an official spokesperson said here today.

Earlier, the family of Delhi Public School (DPS) student had demanded a CBI probe into the case after her father Rajesh Talwar, a noted dentist, was arrested on charges of killing Aarushi.

The family had alleged the Talwar was being made a ''shocking scapegoat''.

They had also demanded that Talwar be immediately handed over to CBI''strongly apprehending'' about his well being in Noida Polices custody.

Echoing the family's demand, UP Chief Minister Mayawati had later sought a CBI inquiry into the killing, adding a political twist to the murder mystery that left the nation transfixed.

There were charges against the Noida Police against goofing up the case.

Although, Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal had earlier said there was no need for a CBI probe into the double murder which had been hitting the headlines off late, the Centre decided to recommend it.

Aarushi's body was discovered in her Jalvayu Vihar apartment on May 16 and the police had immediately named domestic help Hemraj as the prime suspect.

They, however, found themselves with egg on their face, when Hemraj's body was spotted on the terrace of the building the next day.

Police had later taken the dentist father into custody, alleging Talwar killed Aarushi in a fit of rage, as he objected to her closeness to Hemraj.

Talwar's wife Nupur, who too is a dentist, has defended her husband, saying he is ''innocent and both of them discovered Aarushi's body together after their suspicions were aroused when they found they were locked in from outside.'' UNI AJ/ATI PK RK1215